Like Musical Instruments

Like Musical Instruments, John Sarsgard’s book of photographic portraits of “83 Contemporary American Poets,” with poems edited by Larry Fagin, came into the house this week. I’m included. Flipping through, there’s a certain sadness. Several of these contemporaries have moved on, among them, Michael Gizzi, Anselm Hollo, and Jayne Cortez.

Cortez is one of my heroines of travel. She always came to Maine with just a tiny backpack, a package of instant oatmeal, and a generous spirit. She said that traveling in Africa had taught her to be contained and frugal. I fear it’s a lesson I’ll never learn.